Abstract Widespread land clearing for agriculture activities, urbanisation, development of hotels and residential areas has rapidly altered the land use in highland areas. These scenarios have continuously degraded the quality of river water in the area and consequently increased the risk of adverse health effects. This study investigated the impact of seasonal change on river water quality and dissolved metals in mountainous agricultural areas and the risk to human health and well-being. Water quality samples were collected from 28 sampling stations along Bertam River, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia during the wet season (September 2017) and dry season (March 2018) in which the physicochemical parameters, including temperature, conductivity, pH, turbidity, DO, salinity, TDS, and TSS were measured. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn were tested via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that the overall mean concentration of all studied metals was significantly higher during the wet season compared to the dry season and the mean concentrations of dissolved metals were higher in the downstream area compared to the upstream area. Accordingly, this study confirmed that the potential sources of pollution in river water originated from agriculture activities related to landslides, land clearance, and soil erosion. The health risk for non-carcinogenic metals in adults and children was found to be within an acceptable level. However, the carcinogenic risk was significant for Cd among adults (male: 3.05 × 10−3, female: 2.97 × 10−3) and children (4.91 × 10−3).

中文翻译：

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季节性变化对山区农业地区河流水质和溶解金属的影响及对人类健康的风险

摘要 为农业活动、城市化、酒店和住宅区的开发而进行的广泛的土地清理迅速改变了高原地区的土地利用。这些情况不断降低该地区河水的质量，从而增加了对健康产生不利影响的风险。本研究调查了季节性变化对山区农业地区河流水质和溶解金属的影响以及对人类健康和福祉的风险。在雨季（2017 年 9 月）和旱季（2018 年 3 月）期间，从马来西亚金马仑高原 Bertam 河沿岸的 28 个采样站采集水质样本，其中物理化学参数，包括温度、电导率、pH、浊度、溶解氧、盐度、TDS 和 TSS 进行了测量。Al、Cd、Cu、Fe、Pb 的浓度，和 Zn 通过电感耦合等离子体质谱法 (ICP-MS) 进行测试。结果表明，与旱季相比，所有研究金属的总体平均浓度在雨季明显高于旱季，下游地区溶解金属的平均浓度高于上游地区。因此，本研究证实，河水的潜在污染源来自与滑坡、土地清理和水土流失相关的农业活动。发现成人和儿童的非致癌金属的健康风险在可接受的水平内。然而，Cd 在成人（男性：3.05 × 10-3，女性：2.97 × 10-3）和儿童（4.91 × 10-3）中的致癌风险显着。结果表明，与旱季相比，所有研究金属的总体平均浓度在雨季明显高于旱季，下游地区溶解金属的平均浓度高于上游地区。因此，本研究证实，河水的潜在污染源来自与滑坡、土地清理和水土流失相关的农业活动。发现成人和儿童的非致癌金属的健康风险在可接受的水平内。然而，Cd 在成人（男性：3.05 × 10-3，女性：2.97 × 10-3）和儿童（4.91 × 10-3）中的致癌风险显着。结果表明，与旱季相比，所有研究金属的总体平均浓度在雨季明显高于旱季，下游地区溶解金属的平均浓度高于上游地区。因此，本研究证实，河水的潜在污染源来自与滑坡、土地清理和水土流失相关的农业活动。发现成人和儿童的非致癌金属的健康风险在可接受的水平内。然而，Cd 在成人（男性：3.05 × 10-3，女性：2.97 × 10-3）和儿童（4.91 × 10-3）中的致癌风险显着。